Paris, France — 2026-02-05 Investors Look to Paris to Gauge Africa’s 2026 Energy Pipeline. Paris is set to host key energy ministers from Senegal, Nigeria, Zambia, and Djibouti at the Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2026 Forum, providing a platform for investors to assess the continent’s energy market potential.
The forum, scheduled for April 22-23, aims to connect African energy markets with global investors, focusing on projects with near-term delivery potential, regulatory momentum, and credible financing pathways.
According to local reports, the confirmed participation of energy ministers from the aforementioned countries underscores the governments’commitment to engaging investors in advancing priority energy projects.
In Senegal, the focus has shifted from exploration to project delivery and commercial structuring, marked by the entry of the country into the producer ranks with the first oil from the Sangomar field.
The Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG project, led by bp and Kosmos Energy, is also advancing, with phase 2 expansion discussions at the forefront.
In Nigeria, the emphasis is on the scale and long — awaited infrastructure progress, with the 614-km Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano gas pipeline nearing commissioning. This project is crucial for delivering up to 2 billion cubic feet per day of gas to northern industrial and power markets. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) Dr.
Ekperikpe Ekpo has highlighted the importance of gas infrastructure expansion, pricing reform, and domestic offtake development. Zambia’s energy landscape is evolving due to repeated droughts, accelerating the push toward diversification.
The country is seeking private investment in thermal generation, gas — fired power, renewables, and regional power trade.
Minister of Energy Makozo Chikote has emphasized the urgency of attracting private capital into generation and transmission infrastructure. Djibouti, positioned at a strategic crossroads in the Horn of Africa, is focusing on enabling regional power flows rather than large-scale domestic consumption.
The country’s geothermal developments and cross-border power interconnections with Ethiopia position it as a regional transit and services hub.
The IAE Forum returns to Paris at a time when governments and investors are increasingly focused on execution. By connecting energy ministers with banks, DFIs, project developers, and institutional investors, the forum offers a practical setting to assess project readiness, financing structures, and policy alignment across multiple markets. For investors navigating a more disciplined capital environment, IAE 2026 provides direct access to decision-makers shaping near-term opportunities, bridging the gap between project ambition and capital deployment ahead of African Energy Week later in the year.
Further details are expected as the forum approaches.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 4*
